Ignoring India's concern, China to pace up power project over Jhelum in PoK

JAMMU: Notwithstanding India's repeated expression of concern over a hydropower project in Pakistan- occupied Kashmir, China plans to complete ahead of schedule the USD two billion project being built over Jhelum river in disputed territory to ease energy crisis in Pakistan.
The Karot Hydropower Project being built on Jhelum on 'Build-Own-Operate-Transfer' basis by a Chinese company will be completed ahead of its schedule, a research fellow at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of International Relations asserted while not divulging any further details.
Surprisingly, the company even acknowledged the concern of India over the project but said that it won't affect cooperation between China and Pakistan 'as the ties are unshakable.'
"India has repeatedly expressed its concern over the project since the project is located in disputed Kashmir, but it won't affect cooperation between China and Pakistan, because the ties are unshakable and will not target India," a media report quoted Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of International Relations.
"With China's support and assistance, Pakistan's power shortage will very likely be solved by 2025, which means a main obstacle to Pakistan's economic development will be removed," Hu said.
The project is being built at "Build-Own-Operate-Transfer" basis for 30 years. It will be owned by the Chinese company for 30 years, after which ownership will be turned over to the government of Pakistan.
Karot Power Company Limited, a subsidiary of China Three Gorges South Asia Investment which owns the Karot Power Station said that the project will help ease Pakistan's power shortage and generate local employment. The report has not mentioned the new timeline for the project.